Labor Day (A U. S. holiday that honors the achievements of
workers) is less than three weeks away. Unfortunately,
many Americans will spend their time off tethered to their jobs via phone, email
and texts. That’s too bad because a real break boosts productivity back at work.
Entrepreneur John Roa, who makes a point of mixing travel
for business and pleasure, credits time away from his desk with giving him a
broader perspective and renewing his energy and focus.
But don’t take Roa’s anecdotal experience as proof. A recent
study by San Francisco State University organizational psychologist Kevin Eschleman and colleagues shows employees who pursue creative activities outside of work find these
activities have a positive effect on job performance. In other words, free-time pursuits like
travel, photography, painting, cooking, and so on require and rachet up flexibility,
curiosity, and problem-solving ability.
Still unconvinced?
An American Association for the Advancement of Science blog post encourages
scientists to get out of the lab and take a vacation to head off burnout and increase
productivity and creativity. The post cites a 2006 study
that found that “after vacation, less effort expenditure was necessary to
fulfill the daily work chores.”
If you’re
reluctant to detach from work email on weekends and holidays consider a New Republic article that finds the
sixty-hour workweek causes a short uptick (less than a month’s worth) in
productivity followed by a decline. Ouch! That decline hurts all of us.
Can’t manage
three days off? A break as short as a nap offers benefits. According to Forbes, “. . . research shows that taking a break from work—whether it’s a noontime snooze or a week or two off—makes
you more refreshed and productive when you come back.” Wouldn’t you know,
though, the Forbes article acknowledges that employers often perceive
vacation-taking employees as less dedicated than those who leave their vacation
hours on the table. Double ouch! We have to do a better job of showing bosses
the value of time off.
Even if you can’t
get to the mountains, beach, or your favorite hangout over Labor Day, let
yourself unplug. Who knows, September 2 might be less difficult to face after
you’ve had a short but real break.
How do you beat
workaday stress? Two-week vacations? Three-day vacations? Staycations? Wine?
Whine?
